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Help sought in identifying burned body on U.S. 101

July 16, 2010 | 5:28
pm

Santa Barbara County authorities appealed to the public Friday for help in identifying a severely burned body that was found in a roadside fire along U.S. 101 south of Buellton.

The man’s age and ethnicity are unknown but an autopsy revealed that he wore dentures and had an underdeveloped left hand with only three digits. It was unclear whether the deformity was natural or accidental.

The body was discovered shortly after 4 a.m. Thursday after firefighters doused the flames from a small fire alongside the freeway. No vehicle was found at the scene.

A spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department said full autopsy results may not be available for weeks. Anyone with information is urged to call sheriff’s detectives at (805) 934-6170 or an anonymous tip line at (805) 681-4171.